Anything is possible if you don't give up

As the first term of nursing school approaches, I find myself getting more and more excited and more and more nervous. The popular idea of how nursing school takes over your life makes me anxious. I've been told it will be very demanding — to the point where I will want to quit. I've been told some days will be so hard, I will question myself — I will doubt if I am on the right path and if this is what I really want. It will be so challenging, I might sometimes think I am not strong enough to do it.

Giving up out of fear of failure or lack of confidence will most likely be the first thought that comes to mind when things get tough. We are tempted to quit because we are afraid of failing — because we see failure as a negative experience instead of as an opportunity for a second chance. We consider quitting because we think it is easier than facing our monsters and trying to defeat them. Sometimes we are inclined to quit because we think we are not good enough to make it.

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Regardless of why the idea of quitting sneaks up on us, it will most likely come when we are the closest to achieving our goals and fulfilling our dreams. It is at that time when we are challenged and tested the most, because nothing that was ever worth it was ever easy. Difficult experiences take place not to lead us to quit, but to test our strength and show us what we are really capable of if we stay determined to succeed.

There are two quotes that are my favorites when it comes to reasons why we should not quit. The first one is by former President of India A.P.J. Abdul Kalam: "If you fail, never give up, because F.A.I.L means 'First Attempt in Learning'; End is not the end, in fact E.N.D. means 'Effort Never Dies.' If you get no as an answer, remember N.O. means 'Next Opportunity.' So let's be positive." This quote really summarizes how we should approach failure in our lives. If instead of been afraid of it, we would look at failure as just a first attempt, a path to a second chance and a chance to reflect, we would not be so afraid of it anymore and would not be tempted to quit at the first sign of difficulty. Failure is, in reality, just an experience to show us how to reinvent ourselves and discover areas of ourselves we didn't know before.

The second quote, of which I am unsure of the author, is "I thought about quitting, but then I noticed who was watching." This quote also summarizes something very important to consider when we are about to quit. We might not realize that our children or our family might be watching closely, and that our acts inspire them. I know in my case, my children admire my decision of going back to school to pursue a lifelong dream. They know it is nowhere near easy for me; they have seen all the sacrifices made, all the sleepless nights and all the difficult times. But they have also seen me keep going and choose not to quit even when I thought I couldn't do it. They have witnessed the determination of a mother who, amid all her responsibilities, has continued to look at her end goal and work toward it, and that not only makes them proud, but gives them an example to follow.

The power of not giving up is and should be greater than fear or lack of confidence. By not giving up, we will look back and not only be proud of ourselves, but also be able to get to know the stronger part of ourselves we might never have uncovered otherwise. We will be our own — and others' — inspiration.